Southport: Bernhard Langer shot a 3-under 67 on Friday to share the halfway lead in the Senior British Open at Royal Birkdale with Mark Wiebe of the United States. The German, the 2010 champion at Carnoustie, holed five birdies but dropped two strokes at No. 6 when he double-hit the ball.
"The ball was sitting up in the long grass and I caught it high on the clubface and again on the follow through," said Langer, a two-time Masters champion. "But that was my only blemish. Most of it was impressive and good, and I putted a little better today."
Wiebe shot a 65 for the best round of the tournament so far after holing four birdies on the back nine. Both players are at 5-under 135. Wiebe, level par after the first round, moved to 1 under by the turn with two birdies and a bogey. He then rattled off three birdies in four holes from the 13th and added another with a 15-foot putt at the last.
"I really got my irons zoned in on the back nine," Wiebe said. "I know there's a long way to go, but I'm tickled to be where I am. It was unbelievable and great to shoot the low round."
David Frost (68) is a stroke back in third place. The South African picked up birdies at Nos. 2, 5 and 9 to move to 5 under. He faltered slightly on the way home, dropping shots at the par-three 12th and 14th before a birdie at No. 17.
"It was a bit of a shaky round," Frost said. "I didn't feel comfortable with the club in my hand. I hit some wayward shots, but managed to hit good irons into the greens and the putter was my savior."
Frost's playing partner, Tom Watson, only got going after an indifferent front nine featuring two birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey. The American slotted long putts at Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and holed another birdie at the 15th. He bogeyed the last two to finish in a group on 4 over. Overnight leader Gene Sauers shot a 70 for a share of fourth place alongside Peter Fowler (68) and Mark McNulty (67).
"I'm happy with where I am," said Sauers, who shot a 67 on Thursday. "I didn't hit the ball as well as I did yesterday and I didn't putt as well either."
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